Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Iceland's minister of industry and commerce, tells Courtney Fingar about how the country is fighting back after its very public financial crash, and looks ahead to its capital controls being lifted.

Turkey's minister of finance, Mehmet Şimşek, tells Courtney Fingar how he intends to overhaul the country's tax system, why its political system is in a better shape than many perceive, and what the benefits of EU membership would be.

Vajira Kulatilaka took over as chairman of the board of directors of the Colombo Stock Exchange in early June. He tells Courtney Fingar why he thinks the stars are now aligned for Sri Lanka to join in the next phase of global growth, and what kind of role his exchange can play in the south Asia region.

The ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasami, has witnessed the rapid development of his emirate, as well as the UAE at large, in spite of global economic pressures and regional unrest. He tells Courtney Fingar how creating a business-friendly environment for local and foreign companies, and ensuring the people of the emirate play a full part in its success, are key priorities for him.

The UK county of Essex is leveraging its skilled workforce, entrepreneurial culture and proximity to London to forge ties with foreign investors. 

The Estonian city of Narva shares a border with Russia and has a population that is predominantly Russian-speaking – making it something of an outsider within Estonia. However, newly elected mayor Eduard East tells fDi that he intends to turn this into an advantage by courting Russian investment to revive local industries, while at the same time raising the city's international visibility.